Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount said he is gaining more trust with offensive coordinator Greg Olson, and Blount is hoping to be used more on third-down passing situations. RB Kregg Lumpkin was in on most third downs in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. "I feel like that if I work a little harder in practice every week, then they'll become more and more confident to keep me in the game when we're in those situations when we're behind. It (stinks) that I have to come out of the game for the 2-minute offense or in our passing offense."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount (knee), who will return to game action in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints, will be the team's primary back and will even stay on the field for third downs with RB Earnest Graham (Achilles') out for the year. "Oh yeah, I know I'm going to play third downs in this game," Blount said. "I'm probably not going to play all of them, but I know I'm going to play quite a few of them." RBs Kregg Lumpkin and Mossis Madu will spell Blount on occasion on third downs. Blount said he is fully recovered from his knee injury.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping that RB LeGarrette Blount (knee) will be able to return to the starting lineup following their Week 8 bye. If Blount can't go in Week 9, RB Kregg Lumpkin will get the start, unless the team signs someone from the practice squad.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers FB Earnest Graham is the front-runner to be the team's top backup to RB LeGarrette Blount this year. Graham could see less time at fullback as a result. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said he has a lot of confidence in Graham and trusts him. He said if the season were to start today, Graham would be the team's third-down back. RB Kregg Lumpkin is also in the mix, and the team could always decide to re-sign free-agent RB Cadillac Williams. "I know Earnest can handle the third down role. We'll see if Kregg can do that, too," Olson said.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Greg Olson indicated the team may start involving backup RB Kregg Lumpkin in their game plan as early as Week 2, reports Stephen Holder, of The St. Petersburg Times. The Buccaneers have a lot of options in their backfield, so the coaching staff will have to determine how they want to move forward with sharing the football amongst the backs.

Green Bay Packers RB Kregg Lumpkin received most of the carries with the No. 1 offense during OTAs last month when RBs Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson received a breather, reports Packers.com's Mike Spofford. Lumpkin is looking to make the 53-man roster out of camp, and running backs coach Edgar Bennett praised Lumpkin's natural running instincts and soft hands as his best qualities. "This kid is talented, and this kid is committed," Bennett said. "We're talking about a guy, to be quite frank, who hasn't missed a day. In the offseason workout program, he hasn't missed a beat. You root for guys like that." Lumpkin needs to stay healthy if he wants to make the roster, but his work on the practice squad last year should give him a leg up over his competition.